From Framework to Action: Universal Health Coverage in the Western Pacific Region

The George Institute for Global Health and UNSW Sydney hosted a public lecture, 'From Framework to Action: Universal Health Coverage in the Western Pacific Region'.

The WHO’s 13th General Program of Work (13GPW: 2019–2023) was presented to the World Health Assembly in May 2018. Hailed as one of the most inclusive in WHO’s 70-year history, this latest GPW has Universal Health Coverage at its core and champions WHO’s role in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals.

In this lecture Dr Vivian Lin, Director, Health Systems, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, presented a global overview of the 13GPW and plans for implementation in the Western Pacific Region. She showcased WHO’s ‘action agenda’ on the SDGs in our region, drawing on country-specific work in Vietnam, Cambodia, Solomon Islands and the Philippines.

The presentation provided tangible examples of WHO’s work to accelerate progress towards the SDGs and UHC in the Asia Pacific. It covered WHO’s support to countries transitioning away from a reliance on aid to domestic financing; efforts to better regulate and improve the quality of health care; the expanding role of e-health; and hospital management and planning.

Watch or listen to the event

About the Speaker

Dr Lin has more than 30 years' experience in health policy and program development, health planning, and public health teaching and research.

In her role as Director Dr Lin is responsible for the Division of Health Systems at the regional office and for technical support to countries and WHO country offices in a wide range of health system issues, including universal health coverage, health policy and planning, health financing, health workforce, health information systems, health system research, pharmaceuticals, medical technologies, traditional medicine, service delivery and quality, health law and regulation, and community engagement. Cross-cutting issues covered in the division include sustainable development goals, social determinants of health, equity, human rights and gender.

Dr Lin was previously Professor of Public Health and Head of the School of Public Health at La Trobe University, in Melbourne, and is the author of several leading public health textbooks in Australia and numerous articles on health issues in Australia, China, and globally. She has also worked at senior levels in health policy in several Australian jurisdictions and in intergovernmental relations, including as Executive Officer of the National Public Health Partnership. She has also consulted widely for the World Bank, UK Department for International Development, the Australian Aid program and served on multiple academic, government, community and editorial boards.